Trust your Mashaaykh!

Ibn Abi Haatim mentions under the biography of Yusuf Ibn Khaalid As Samti:

“I refused to accept the statement of Yahya Ibn Ma’een concerning him, wherein he referred to him as a ‘Zindeeq’ (Heretic) until a book that he wrote supporting ‘Tajahum’ (The aqeedah of the Jahmiyah) chapter after chapter, was brought to me. He rejected within it belief in the scales on the day of Judgement. It was then that I knew that Yahya Ibn Ma’een did not speak except upon foresight and understanding!”

(Al Jarh Wat Ta’deel 4/2/222)

Similarly in our times, I remember as a young student in Madinah feeling shock when hearing that certain individuals we had respect for had been spoken against by our Mashaykh, but without fail when the writings of our mashaykh later reached us, we found their refutations to be exactly on point. And that continues to be the case, thus after many years we have grown to know that they do not speak except upon foresight and understanding!

May Allah shower his mercy upon those who have passed away and preserve those who remain!